Self-filling fountain pen



SELF FILLING FOUNTAIN PEN Original Filed Sept. 11, 1934 v IINVENIT'OR a; W O m Patented Oct. 20, 1936 PATENT OFFICE SELF-FILLING FOUNTAIN PEN Erskine Long, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application September 11, 1934, Serial No. 743,520 Renewed August 20, 1936 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a fountain pen and more particularly an automatic self-filling fountain pen.

One object of the present invention is to provide a fountain pen having an exceedingly large ink reservoir which may be readily filled by simply turning the pen from an upright position, in which the point extends upwardly, to a writing position and inserting the point in a suitable ink container. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fountain pen having means for expanding the air in the ink reservoir when the pen is turned from an upright position to the writing 'po sition for the purpose of creating a partial vacuum whereby ink will be drawn into sai'd reservoir on the insertion of the point into a suitable ink container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen which is simple in construction, positive in operation, easy to manufacture and in which theink is positively retained within ther'eservoir.

These and other objects which will be hereinafter m'ade apparent to those skilled in this particular art, are accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in' the accompanying drawing, wherein:

3- Figure 1 is a view in longitudinalsection of a fountain pen made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal section illustrating a modification of my invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved pen comprises a barrel or shell 5 of the usual construction, serving as an ink reservoir and having its upper end closed by a cap 6 and a sleeve 1 threaded into-its lower end which supports'the usual point 8 and plug 9. The plug 9 is provided Withfthe usual groove I0 underneath the'poin't 8 which leads to the ink reservoir and serves as an ink inlet passage for filling up the pen and as an outlet passage when the pen is in use. 4

In order that the pen may be readily and automatically filled with ink, a tubular member or barrel H having a closed lower end is mounted within the shell 6 with its closed end abutting against the upper end of the plug 9. This tubular member H which is of substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the shell 5 so that, when positioned on the plug 9, it will not cover the upper end of the passageway I0, is held in' spaced relation to the shell by means of spacer spokes l2 having their ends cemented to the outer surface of the tubular member II and the inner surface of the shell 5. The upper end of the tubular member II is closed by a loose flexible diaphragm l3 made of rubber or any other suitable material which is secured to the outer surface of the tubular member by means of a ring [4 which clamps the edges of the diaphragm in a groove l5 formed in the outer wall of the member H. The diaphragm l3 has a weight I6 secured thereto which is slidably contained in the tubular member II and is movable into and out of said member to actuate said diaphragm. The lower end of the tubular member H is connected to atmosphere by a sleeve l9 which has its ends secured in openings in the wall of the shell 5 and tubular member ll, respectively. From this arrangement, it is apparent that the member ll divides the interior of the shell 5 into an ink reservoir or chamber 20 and an air chamber 2| which are separated by the flexible diaphragm I3.

To fill the pen, it is first turned to a position with the point 8 extending upwardly whereby the weight member IS in the tubular member ll moves toward the upper end of the shell 1 so flexing the diaphragm that the weight and diaphragm enter the upper end of the chamber 20,

materially reducing the volume thereof and forcing the excess air through the groove ID. The pen .5 is then quickly inverted and the point 8 inserted. into a suitable supply of ink such as a bottle or other container, to such a depth that the lower end of the passageway ID is submerged therein. In this position, the weight I6 falls by gravity to its lower position, illustrated in the drawing and exhausts the air in the chamber 2| through the duct in the sleeve I9. Since the opening of the passageway I0 is immersed in a liquid during this movement of the weight IE, it is apparent that the volume of the chamber 20 is increased and the air remaining therein will be expanded and create a partial vacuum which causes ink to flow through the passageway 10 into the chamber or ink reservoir 20. By repeating this operation the pen may be filled toany desired extent.

If desired, the weight l6 may be releasably locked in the tube II to prevent its movement back and forth therein during the normal use of the pen. To lock the weight 16 in the position illustrated in the drawing, that is in its lowermost position, a hollow pin 22 may be slidably mounted in the sleeve 19 which, when in its innermost position, enters a groove 23 formed in the periphery of the weight l6. With this construction, when the pen is to be filled, the pin is first retracted and then the pen is so turned that the weight l6 moves into the chamber 20. After the filling operation as above described, and while the pen is held in position for writing, the pin 22 is moved inwardly so that the end thereof so that, as the pen is turned about its horizontal axis, it will fall by gravity and force the air outof the chamber 28' through the passageway II! when moving in one direction, and force the air in v the chamber 2 I through the sleeve I9 when moving in the opposite direction and thus create a partial vacuum in the chamber 20' which will cause ink to flow into the reservoir. The piston 36 is provided with an extension 3| which is ofsuffic'ient length toengage the cap 6' and prevent the piston "from passing beyond thejupper end of the tubular'member II when the pen is held with the pointin raised position.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it is apparent that I have provided a fountain pen which is' simple in construction and is readily filled with ink by simply turning the pen from one position to another to create a partial vacuum in the inkreservoir and then inserting the point in a. suitable supply of ink.

While I have described the member H and the shell 5 'as made separately and then joined together, it isunderstood that the two parts may be readily cast integrally and thatother changes,

rnodifications, omissions, and additions may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of my'invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is":

1."A fountain pen comprising an outer barrel, an inner barrel spaced from said outer barrel and in communicationwith atmosphere, said barrels forming an ink reservoir therebetween, a pen point positioned in the end of said outer barrel and communicating with said reservoir, means for closing the'upper end of said inner barrel, and'means for flexing said closure means whensaid pen is turned about its horizantal axis to expand theair in said ink reservoir. v i H i 2; Afountain pen comprising a shell, a grooved plug closing the end of said shell, an inner tubular member within said shell having one end thereof connected to atmosphere, a diaphragm closing the oppositeend of said member, and means slidable within said member for actuating said diaphragm to vary the volume of the chamber between'said member-and said-shell.

3. A fountain pen comprising an outer barrel, an

innerbarrel spaced "from said outer barrel and forming anink reservoir therebetween, a point assembly carriedby said outer bar-reland communicating with said reservoir, and means actuated by turning the pen about its horizontal axis for creating-a partial vacuum in said reservoir.

A fountain pen comprising-"a shell having a closed. end :and an open-end, a tubular':member within saidshell. and-havinga passage leading to the exterior surface of the shell, a grooved point assembly closing the vopenend of said, shelliand having the groove opening into thespacefbetween said shell and member, and a weightedfiiaphragm closing the end of said member. r u

5. An automatic filling fountainpen comprising an outer hollow member having a closedupper end, a hollow member in constant communication with atmosphere mounted within said-outer member and forming a chamber therebetween, 21.

air chamber, a flexible member separating said chambers and-means for flexing said member to varythe volume of said chambers when the pen is turned about its horizontal axis.

'7. A fountain pen having an ink chamber, an air chamber, and means for creating a partial vacuum within said ink chamber including a diaphragm means for flexing said diaphragm.

8 h fountain. pen having a barrel, means for dividing the interior of said barrel into an ink chamber and an air chamber, a flexible member separating said chambers, and a weightattached to said flexible member for flexing the same. 9. A fountain pen having an ink chamber, an air chamber, and means for reducing the. pressure in said ink chamber comprising a flexible member separating said chambers and means attached to said flexible member and contained in said air chamber for varying the volume of the ink cham her on the turning of said pen. n

.10. A fountainpen having a shell, a grooved point assembly closing the lower end of said shell, a hollow member disposed within said shell and connected to atmosphere, said hollow member being spaced from said shell to form an inkreservoir therebetween, and means associatedwith said hollow member and operable when. said pen is turned from a position with the pointupright to a position with thepoint extending downwardly for exhausting the air from said hollow member and increasing thevolumeof saidink reservoir;

11. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel having a closed end, a tubular member within said barrel and dividing the interior thereof into an ink spaceand an air space, a pen point mounted on one endof said barrel'and communicatingwithsaid ink space, and a plunger slidably mounted in the tubular member; to vary the capacity of said air space, a

12.- A fountain pen ofthe character described comprising a barrel having one end thereof closed; a tubular member within said barrel for dividing the interior thereof into an-ink space and an air space, a pen point mounted in the open end of said barrel and communicating with said ink space,- a plunger slidably mounted in said tubular member, and means for releasably locking said plunger in one-position in said tubular member. 13. A fountain pen of the character described comprising a barrel means ;fordiv i ding,the interior of ,said barrel into an ink space and anair space, and a weighted member movablein the air space for progressively varying thevolume of said respective spaces. V

l4. A fountainpen comprising a bar-rel, means fordividing the interior of the barrel into'an ink chamber and an-air chamber, a point assembly carried-by said barrel and; communicating with theinkchamber, and movable means forsepae rating-said chambers and operable when said pen isturned' from a position with the point upright to a p osition with; the point extending downwardly to decrease the volume of theair-chamber ancl increase the volume of the ink'chamber to thereby expand the air contained therein.

- I K N LO G- 

